THE WORD: Chico had its second straight six-win season that
didn’t lead to a spot in the playoffs. Switching to a new-look
district but keeping starters at several key positions should
see that postseason appearance finally come to fruition.
Jericoe McGuire is back behind center and will once again
target Jastin McBee and Kalen Johnson. Running back is a
question mark going into the season, although McBee could
make a return to the position. The Dragons have experience
on the offensive line in Tyler Melton and Shaun Lopez. There
are only a couple of spots to fill on defense. Stephen Whatley
and Taylor Hood lead the way up front while Crese Redman
and Garon Davis handle business at linebacker. By virtue
of its record last season compared to others in the district,
Chico might be the favorite for the top spot. But after the last
two years, the Dragons aren’t taking anything for granted.

THE WORD: Alvord is hoping that an experienced group can
make a push towards the playoffs in a new district where
none of their opponents are holdovers from the previous
realignment cycle. The Bulldogs return 18 lettermen, including eight starters apiece on both sides of the ball, and the
holes to fill aren’t concentrated in one position group. Cassidy Patterson is back behind center and once again teams
with Joe Randall, a four-year varsity contributor coming off
a 1,251-yard, 16-touchdown effort. Jaylon White is the top
returning receiving threat while Evan Beasley and Hayden
Tillison are two of three starters back on the offensive line.
Size in the trenches could be a concern for Alvord but the
Bulldogs might be able to make up for it with overall team
speed. Middle linebacker Troy Morales heads a defense that
includes playmakers in White, Randall and lineman Bryce
Bull. Special teams has been an area of emphasis during
off-season workouts.

THE WORD: Bells was one of the programs that was in need of
some great news in the latest realignment and the Panthers
got it with a move down in classification after winning just two
games in the past three seasons following a playoff appearance in 2010. There is also a coaching change to factor into
the upcoming season as well. The quarterback competition
will between incumbent Noah Straw and Derek Ponder, the
coach’s son who starter the past two seasons at Iowa Park.
Expect competition at several spots due to the switch at the
top. Martin Mijarez saw some time in the backfield as a sophomore. Dillon Montgomery is the top returning receiver. Jace
Lester and Blake Stevens lead the way on the defensive line.
Secondary might be an area of concern but linebacker looks
strong with the return of E. J. Marqus, Matt Waldrip and Garrett
McLean. Despite its recent struggles, Bells could be on its way
to its best season by far in four years.

THE WORD: Blue Ridge is still trying to overcome a youthful
roster in an attempt to shake off consecutive fifth-place
finishes and find a way to get into the postseason. The
Tigers boast a strong passing attack to be the foundation
around the focus on other areas of the roster. Ty Agan threw
for nearly 2,000 yards to go with 22 touchdowns — many
in the direction of classmate Brevin Wiggins ( 11 TDs in 30
catches), a standout on both sides of the ball. Dakota Bell
is a deep threat on the other side of the field. Dalton Eaves
got a majority of the carries after missing the first half of
year with an injury and returns as the lead back. Max Gafford
saw significant time on the line as a freshman and the Tigers
will work in more youngsters again this season. Blue Ridge’s
strength on defense can be found in its linebacking corps
(Eaves, Ty Keller and Jacob Dennison).

THE WORD: Trenton is struggling to gain traction as a brand-new program with just one victory in its first two seasons.
But the Tigers have plenty of three-year starters who had a
large learning curve from their freshman seasons. Keaver
Wylie again leads the offense but his top weapon and deep
threat, brother Kyle, graduated. Andrew Stegall and Avery Allin are among those who need to step in and fill that production. Anthony Johnson is being counted on to help improve
a stagnant running attack. Jace Dockery jumped right in as
a freshman on the offensive line. Defensively Trenton is led
by linebacker Patrick Cook and Joe Garza and Triston Mack
in the secondary. The holes in the unit can be found on the
defensive line. In a district with only one team holding a winning record in 2013, the Tigers might find themselves in the
mix in the latter stages of district play.

THE WORD: Despite slipping under .500, the Tigers still made
it to the playoffs in 2013. Clarksville will look to return to the
postseason while bumping up the win total against some new
district foes in a smaller classification. Terrence Tinnell is a
three-year starter at quarterback and combined to produce
2,043 yards and 26 touchdowns last season. His main target
Trevin Dockins, returns, and the offense has a lot of two-way
standouts with speed and athleticism, including Demontra
Bell and Rayzon Allen. The offensive line does not have a lot
of experience, save for Aby Chavez and Brantavis Nickerson.
Clashon Gaffney had an immediate impact as a freshman and
more is expected in his second season as the Tigers look to fill
in spots around him on the defensive line. Bell was Clarksville’s
leading tackler as a junior with 94 stops. Frankie Olguin is a
strong contributor on special teams. A shot at the district title
should be in the cards for Clarksville.

THE WORD: Boles made the playoffs for the second time in
three seasons and won the district title in the process. As the
only team with a winning record in their new district and several
key players back, the Hornets look to be the favorite to finish
in first place once again in 2014. Leading that charge will be
some talented offensive weapons, despite the loss of ball-carrier Devan Harris. Josh Monroe is back at quarterback and
joined by Cameron Walker in the backfield. Bailey Isom should
be the main target in the passing game. Among those returning
on the offensive line include Jeremiah Howell and Grant Farley.
Chris Sumrall had a breakout season along the defensive line
as a junior. Boles will look to surround David Hernandez, the
district Defensive Player of the Year, with capable starters at
linebacker while Avery Christian and Jonathan Lira have experience in the secondary.

THE WORD: Wolfe City finished around .500 for the second
straight season but didn’t make it as far in the postseason
as it did in 2012. Viewed as taking a small step back, the
Wolves have a coaching change in store and hope that not
only leads back to the playoffs but a deeper push. There
aren’t many questions with Brandon Fisk, a three-year
starter, at quarterback but the focus is on a capable running
back. Hunter Bostick was Fisk’s top receiving threat last
season. There are starting jobs open on the offensive line
alongside Mason Campbell and Chase Reed. The best defensive line tandem in the district might be the combination
of Colton Quirl and Andre Brown, which will help overcome
the fact that Cameron Dawson is one of the few linebackers
with varsity experience. Trenton Turney flashed ability in the
secondary as a sophomore while Wyatt George and Bostick
also return in the back end.

THE WORD: Honey Grove struggled in 2013 after losing just
once the year before in what was one of the best seasons
in school history. The Warriors will look to jump back up the
new-look district standings with a good amount of holdover
talent, although some are at new positions. Bobbie Newman
will move over to quarterback following the graduation of
standout Jeremy Patt after seeing time around the field on
offense and Patrick Harris should contribute at both running
back and linebacker. Finding playmakers at receiver is an
off-season goal. Jonathan Clark and Drew Rhodes provide
senior leadership on the offensive line while Blake Shaw and
Davis Wilson look to do the same up front defensively. With
Harris, Carter Patrick and Hoss McElroy, Honey Grove has
strength at linebacker. There will be some holes to fill in the
secondary. The Warriors might be another year away from
the postseason but do have a chance to sneak in.

THE WORD: Como-Pickton is another program excited about
the potential that comes with dropping down in classification and having the change to compete despite winning just
one game over the previous two seasons. Offense has been
the major concern after the Eagles were shut out in their
first eight games before finally scoring their only touchdown
of the season. Classmates Cody Fite and John Collins return
in the backfield while Carlos Villasenior provides another option. Despite being just a sophomore, Dontae Hall will likely
be the top receiving threat. A majority of the offensive line
graduated and will need to be replace. Dakota Payton leads
a young defensive line. Both linebackers Fankie Murillo and
Blake Neal are among the few upperclassmen with experience. The secondary, with the likes of Hall and Zachary Robinson, is another position group where young talent is being
housed. Even with the drop down, wins and losses might not
be the truest measure of Como-Pickton’s progress.

BOGOTA RIVERCREST REBELSENROLLMENT: 211 ( 1)

2013 RECORD: 1-9

THE COACH: Lance Connot

THE PLAYERS: Hunter Binion (Sr., QB), Croix Parrott (Sr., RB),
Aaron Hayes (Sr., WR), Hayden Hanks (Sr., OL), Riley Russell (Jr.,
DL), Korey Steen (Sr., DL), Wyatt Tabb (Sr., LB), Morgan Tabb
(So., DB), Felix Hernandez (Sr., K), Devynn Sloan (Jr., ATH)
THE WORD: Depth was an issue for Rivercrest in 2013 and
under a first-year head coach slipped to just one victory. Now
the Rebels are the biggest team in the district thanks to a
drop in classification and the hope is the program can find
a way to be in the playoff mix going forward. But they’ll have
to try and move forward under their third coach in as many
seasons as in steps former Detroit HC Lance Connot. There
were a lot of younger players who stepped on the varsity
field a season ago and RHS will look to use that experience.
Quarterback is going to be a position of interest and could
affect the positions of several on the offense. Hayden Hanks
is back on the offensive line. While the Rebels figure things
out on offense, they will turn to Korey Steen, Wyatt Tabb and
Riley Russell to maintain order from a defensive standpoint.
Morgan Tabb is expected to contribute despite being just a
sophomore. Devynn Sloan has a chance to continue having
an impact in a variety of ways.

THE WORD: Hico is coming off its deepest postseason run in
school history after reaching the state semifinals last fall,
and now the Tigers have a large, experienced class leading
the way. If things break right this is a team that could challenge for a state title. Duane Hyles rushed for 1,361 yards
in an offense that averaged more than 450 yards per game.
His brother, Blake Hyles, was their district MVP last season
with 215 tackles. Hico also has Turner back to lead what
was a dominant defense a year ago when the defensive end
made 124 tackles and 14. 5 sacks. Wood passed for 13 TDs
on one side and made 137 stops on the other, while Serratt
and Sikes return to a line that paves the way in the wing-T
offense. Hartgraves made 93 tackles including 15 behind
the line last fall, and Anderson caught 8 TDs as a freshman.